Generating a configuration diagram based on user specification of a task

Abstract

System and method for generating a configuration diagram based on user specification of a task. A server computer communicates with a client system, e.g., a measurement system, including a client computer system, over a network. The server receives requirements, e.g., a task specification, for a task, e.g., a measurement task, where the requirements are provided in response to user input. A plurality of products operable to perform the task are determined in response to the requirements, e.g., by programmatically analyzing the requirements. A diagram is displayed on the client computer system iconically representing the plurality of products, including icons representing at least a subset of the products to the user as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system. Pricing information for the proposed products may be displayed. User input indicating purchase of at least one of the products is received and the purchased products provided to the user.

1. A method implemented by a server for providing configuration information to a client system, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements; 
 determining a current configuration of the client system; 
 determining a plurality of products in response to said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and 
 providing a diagram for display on the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system, comprising a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and/or at least one software product. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and at least one software product. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining the plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements comprises:
 determining a task specification based on said one or more requirements; and 
 programmatically analyzing the task specification to determine said plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 programmatically generating the diagram based on the determined plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 programmatically retrieving the diagram from a database, wherein said programmatically retrieving is performed based on the determined plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said providing the diagram for display on the client system which iconically represents the plurality of products comprises:
 providing icons for each of the plurality of products for display on the client system. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein icons for the proposed products are displayed differently from icons for others of the plurality of products. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a tree diagram for display on the client system which visually represents a hierarchical view of the plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing pricing information for the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 pricing information for each of the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 an unpaid balance for the cost of the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 a total cost for the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram further comprises:
 a total cost for the plurality of products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system for display on the client system. 
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system; and 
 modifying the first diagram to include said at least a subset of the plurality of products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system; 
 wherein the diagram comprises the modified first diagram. 
 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein said modifying the diagram comprises:
 adding product icons to the diagram representing the proposed products for use in the client system. 
 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:
 modifying the first diagram to include estimated delivery times for the proposed products. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:
 modifying the first diagram to include pricing information for the proposed products. 
 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said modifying the diagram to include the pricing information comprises:
 pricing information proximate to respective product icons in the diagram. 
 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed products; and 
 providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input. 
 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein said providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input further comprises:
 providing order-tracking information for the purchased products. 
 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of products comprises one or more devices and one or more software products. 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 providing information indicating at least one device of said one or more devices and at least one software product of said one or more software products to a manufacturer in response to said determining; 
 the manufacturer configuring the at least one device with the at least one software product to produce at least one configured device, wherein the at least one configured device is operable to perform at least a portion of the task; and 
 the manufacturer sending the configured at least one device to the user. 
 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more measurement devices which are operable to perform respective measurement functions; and 
 one or more measurement programs. 
 
 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more simulation devices which are operable to perform respective simulation functions; and 
 one or more one or more simulation programs. 
 
 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more automation devices which are operable to perform respective automation functions; and 
 one or more automation programs. 
 
 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more network devices which are operable to perform respective network functions; and 
 one or more network programs. 
 
 
   
   
     29. A system for providing configuration information to a client system, the system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory medium coupled to the processor; 
 wherein the memory medium stores program instructions which are executable to:
 receive one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 programmatically analyze the one or more requirements; 
 determine a current configuration of the client system; 
 determine a plurality of products in response to said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and 
 
 provide a diagram for display on the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system, comprising a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices. 
 
   
   
     30. A system for providing configuration information to a client system, the system comprising:
 means for receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 means for programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements; 
 means for determining a current configuration of the client system; 
 means for determining a plurality of products in response to said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system one or more requirements, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and 
 means for providing a diagram for display on the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system, comprising a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices. 
 
   
   
     31. A method for providing configuration information to a client system, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements; 
 determining a current configuration of the client system; and 
 programmatically generating a diagram for display on a display of the client system in response to said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents a proposed system, where the proposed system is capable of performing the task indicated by the one or more requirements, wherein the diagram comprises a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices; 
 wherein the diagram comprises information representing one or more products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system. 
 
   
   
     32. A method for providing configuration information to a client system, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements; 
 determining a current configuration of the client system; 
 retrieving a diagram from a database, wherein said retrieving is performed based on said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents a system that is operable to perform the task, wherein the diagram comprises a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices; and 
 providing the diagram for display on the client system. 
 
   
   
     33. The method of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the diagram iconically represents a plurality of products which are operable to perform the task, and wherein the plurality of products includes the plurality of devices and at least one software product. 
 
   
   
     34. A computer-accessible memory medium that stores program instructions for providing configuration information to a client system, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to:
 receive one or more requirements for a task to be performed by the client system, wherein the one or more requirements are provided in response to input from a user; 
 programmatically analyze the one or more requirements; 
 determine a current configuration of the client system; 
 determine a plurality of products in response to said programmatically analyzing the one or more requirements and said determining the current configuration of the client system, wherein the plurality of products are operable to perform the task; and 
 providing a diagram for display on the client system, wherein the diagram iconically represents the plurality of products, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of products are proposed products, wherein the diagram comprises a proposed configuration of the client system, comprising a plurality of device icons representing a plurality of devices of the plurality of products, and link icons between the device icons, wherein the link icons represent physical connections between the devices. 
 
   
   
     35. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and/or at least one software product. 
   
   
     36. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the proposed products comprise at least one device product and at least one software product. 
   
   
     37. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein said determining the plurality of products in response to said one or more requirements comprises:
 determining a task specification based on said one or more requirements; and 
 programmatically analyzing the task specification to determine said plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     38. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 programmatically generating the diagram based on the determined plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     39. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 programmatically retrieving the diagram from a database, wherein said programmatically retrieving is performed based on the determined plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     40. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein said providing the diagram for display on the client system which iconically represents the plurality of products comprises:
 providing icons for each of the plurality of products for display on the client system. 
 
   
   
     41. The memory medium of  claim 40 , wherein icons for the proposed products are displayed differently from icons for others of the plurality of products. 
   
   
     42. The memory medium of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the diagram also visually represents a hierarchical view of the plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     43. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 providing a tree diagram for display on the client system which visually represents a hierarchical view of the plurality of products. 
 
   
   
     44. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 providing pricing information for the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     45. The memory medium of  claim 44 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 pricing information for each of the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     46. The memory medium of  claim 44 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 an unpaid balance for the cost of the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     47. The memory medium of  claim 44 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram comprises:
 a total cost for the proposed products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     48. The memory medium of  claim 44 , wherein the pricing information of the proposed products on the diagram further comprises:
 a total cost for the plurality of products on the diagram. 
 
   
   
     49. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 providing a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system. 
 
   
   
     50. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 generating a first diagram representing the current configuration of the client system; and 
 modifying the first diagram to include said at least a subset of the plurality of products as proposed hardware and/or software products for the client system; 
 wherein the diagram comprises the modified first diagram. 
 
   
   
     51. The memory medium of  claim 50 , wherein said modifying the diagram comprises:
 adding product icons to the diagram representing the proposed products for use in the client system. 
 
   
   
     52. The memory medium of  claim 51 , wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:
 modifying the first diagram to include estimated delivery times for the proposed products. 
 
   
   
     53. The memory medium of  claim 52 , wherein said modifying the diagram further comprises:
 modifying the first diagram to include pricing information for the proposed products. 
 
   
   
     54. The memory medium of  claim 53 , wherein said modifying the diagram to include the pricing information comprises:
 pricing information proximate to respective product icons in the diagram. 
 
   
   
     55. The memory medium of  claim 50 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 receiving user input indicating purchase of at least one of the proposed products; and 
 providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input. 
 
   
   
     56. The memory medium of  claim 55 , wherein said providing the at least one of the proposed products to the user in response to said receiving user input further comprises:
 providing order-tracking information for the purchased products. 
 
   
   
     57. The memory medium of  claim 34 , wherein said plurality of products comprises one or more devices and one or more software products. 
   
   
     58. The memory medium of  claim 57 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:
 providing information indicating at least one device of said one or more devices and at least one software product of said one or more software products to a manufacturer in response to said determining; 
 the manufacturer configuring the at least one device with the at least one software product to produce at least one configured device, wherein the at least one configured device is operable to perform at least a portion of the task; and 
 the manufacturer sending the configured at least one device to the user. 
 
   
   
     59. The memory medium of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more measurement devices which are operable to perform respective measurement functions; and 
 one or more measurement programs. 
 
 
   
   
     60. The memory medium of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more simulation devices which are operable to perform respective simulation functions; and 
 one or more one or more simulation programs. 
 
 
   
   
     61. The memory medium of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more automation devices which are operable to perform respective automation functions; and 
 one or more automation programs. 
 
 
   
   
     62. The memory medium of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the plurality of products comprise:
 one or more network devices which are operable to perform respective network functions; and 
 one or more network programs.